I was born in Manhattan on Dec 28, 1922.

The name I’m known by is a less-ethnic-sounding variant of my actual birth name.

I went to high school in the Bronx, worked odd jobs, and got interested in writing.

Kurt Vonnegut?

Not Kurt.

I died in 2018 at the ripe old age of 95, quite wealthy and successful.

After my long writing and publishing career, I often made popular cameo appearances in a variety of media that were well-received.

Stan Lee (Stanly Lieber)

Excelsior, Cliff!

Didn’t even get around to mentioning the hugely influential pantheon of Marvel superheroes he created (and/or co-created, with his artist colleagues). Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, Daredevil, etc.

Your second clue gave it away for me. I always loved his work.

1. I was born in 1927 in Virginia
2. Mom died when I was 8. My dad moved us to Detroit.
3. In World War II I served my country by enlisting in the U. S. Marines.

4. What ever my plans were, I never saw combat. I was stationed as a guard at Arlington cemetery.

5. After my rather dull military service, I attended the University of Missouri where I studied Journalism, but then I got interested in theater.

Brock Peters? (I know, pretty obscure, but I've learned to reach with Cliff! )

You've got THAT right!

Not Brock, and all of you know who this is unless you live under a rock.

6) As my movie and TV career began to rise I found myself tricked by a famous director into making fun of the military. I was angry as I would never do that for real. He told me the cameras weren't rolling.

I have a feeling I live under a rock...

James Garner?

Hugh Hefner?

Don Knotts?

Fred Rogers?

The great actor George C. Scott?

Claudio, it is your turn to choose someone! Congrats, George C Scott it is!

7. I soon had a starring role in an historical military movie.
8. I won an Oscar for that role as best actor, but I refused to take the prize.
9. In 1974, I produced, directed, and starred in a movie that was so controversial, I had to buy my own movie theater to get it shown.
10. My son's first name is my middle name.
11. I developed a reputation for playing angry characters, off beat characters, or out and out antagonists.
12. My last movie credit was in one of the many sequels to "The Exorcist."
13 I was married five times, though two of the marriages were to the same woman, we divorced and reconciled.
14. I passed on in 1991 at age 71.